Chelsea

Chelsea will announce £57m bargain transfer in days – report

Chelsea are reportedly closing in on a double swoop for Roma stars, Edin Dzeko and Emerson Palmieri after bids for the pair were accepted by the Serie A outfit.

The west London club has been in the hunt for a striker and a left-sided defender all winter with Conte keen on providing cover and stiff competitions for struggling Alvaro Morata and jaded Marcos Alonso.

The Blues have been linked with the impressive Roma duo for the past few weeks and will be happy a breakthrough has been reached in the wake of their 2-1 Carabao Cup semi-final loss away at the Emirates on Wednesday.

According to the Guardian, the Premier League champions will pay an initial £44 million for the Roma pair but could later rise to a fee around £57.2 million on bonuses and related ad-ons.

Antonio Conte bolstering his squad with the duo of Edin Dzeko and Emerson Palmieri makes perfect sense given Alvaro Morata’s recent struggles in front of goal having scored just thrice in his last eleven games across all competitions while the form of Marcos Alonso has dipped in the last few games having played virtually every game for the Blues so far this season.

The 31-year-old striker will keep Spanish forward, Alvaro Morata on his toes given his level of experience in the Premier League with Manchester City while 23-year-old Brazilian defender, Emerson Palmieri will be a good cover for Marcos Alonso.

The Blues will be hoping to complete the signing of Dzeko and Palmieri in time before the champions travel to Vicarage Road to face Watford next week in the Premier League.